24 August 2005

President responds to Governor’s request for assistance
Disaster declaration authorized for three Kansas counties

TOPEKA, Kan. – Needing assistance to recover from severe storms earlier this summer, three Kansas counties have been declared a major disaster by the President of the United States, Governor Kathleen Sebelius said. The declaration came late Tuesday evening for the counties who were hit by storms during June 30 and July 1. This declaration triggers the release of federal funds to help communities recover from severe storms.

“This assistance will help families and communities impacted by this storm to recover, Governor Sebelius said. “I want to thank the President for answering our call for federal assistance for these counties.”

The counties named in the federal declaration are: Cherokee, Crawford, and Neosho. The total eligible damages in these three counties, has reached nearly $4.7 million.

Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, said President George W. Bush authorized the aid under a major disaster declaration issued following a review of FEMA’s analysis of Governor Sebelius' request for federal assistance.

After the President’s action, Brown designated three counties eligible for federal funding to pay the state and affected local governments and certain private non-profit organizations 75 percent of the approved costs for emergency work and the restoration of damaged facilities.

The President’s declaration was issued in response to a request Governor Kathleen Sebelius sent July 15, requesting federal assistance to help Kansans recover from the effects of the severe storms, accompanied by flooding, flash flooding, tornadoes, high winds, hail, and lightning. The declaration also activates the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which gives assistance to state and local governments for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural or technological hazards.

The Governor asked for the Public Assistance program to restore damaged infrastructure. This declaration authorizes the Public Assistance program to restore damaged infrastructure under Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law 288, as amended, and implemented by 44 CFR Part 206.36(d). These damages include such things as power lines, transformers and debris removal.